Wednesday, April 26, 2006

In Which I Reveal My True Nature as a Project Sl*t

Lolly, it's all your fault. She posted a little preview of this book, which I had heard and then forgotten about. After seeing a little glimpse, I had to have it. Yesterday, off to the bookstore I went. Hey, I'm there so J can play with the train set, right?

This book is gorgeous. I haven't read through it closely, only flipped through and drooled at the pages, exactly like a teenage boy with a girlie magazine. (For shame!) Just as some such periodicals are reputed to contain some serious writing/journalism, Ms. Gaughan has included some actual scientific content in this book -- she explains the different natural structures, such as fractals (!!) and phyllotaxis (!!), and how they inspired her designing. I really swear I will read that stuff. Really.

But, the patterns. Literally, turning the pages of the book results in involuntary gasping. The projects are just so beautiful. So beautiful, that upon seeing one of them, I absolutely had to check my stash for appropriate yarn and start swatching. (Audrey Who?) The yarn I had in mind wouldn't work, so naturally, because I am a Bad Girl, I had to go to Knit Picks and find something that would. And because I am fortunate enough to live in the same state with the Knit Picks distribution center, I received my yarn today. That's right -- I ordered it yesterday afternoon and I cast on today. No chance for that project lust to cool.

Another note on the 80s nostalgia songs... The versions of the songs that I have: Save It For Later by the English Beat, Something About You by Level 42, Da Da Da by Trio, Blue Monday by New Order, and Bring on the Dancing Horses by Echo and the Bunnymen. One thing I learned from doing this -- there apparently was a period in the mid to late 1990s in which I was under a rock from a popular music perspective. (Hmm, what was I doing then? Oh yes, law school.) So, for example, the fact that someone had covered Blue Monday was news to me. Sorry, Erin, but no one will ever do Blue Monday like New Order. And who's this Harvey Danger? I feel old.

29 Comments:

Yeah, love em and leave em, Laura, that's you! LOL! Yet, here is where I help you to rationalize this latest infidelity. If you come across a project that makes you excited, and want to start knitting right away, how can that be bad? Aren't we knitting for the love/lust of it, anyway? What's the point if it gets boring?

hey no problem, I'm one of those upstart youngins anyway *wink*That pattern looks like it's going to be beautiful, what color yarn did you pick out? You're making me want to buy that book... hmmm mother's day is coming up, isn't it? My mom is the knitting book queen... I bet she'd like another one (then I can read it! heh, heh)

I too got the bug after seeing Lolly's post about this book and immediately went and added it to my amazon wishlist. Bookstores around here just aren't that good, and I just went to a few LYS this weekend and didn't see it. I did however do SO much damage with the yarn accumulation that I think I've blown my knitting budget for the next several months. *sigh* I'll just have to lust vicariously for a while. Maybe Christmas will come early this year, right?

I'm pretty sure your post was about a book or something but I can't remember because my entire brain is CONSUMED WITH JEALOUSY about the speed with which you receive your KnitPicks orders. Where do you live? And will you consider a generous offer on your house?

Yeah, I saw this book in person and was quite intrigued. It's definitely going on my wishlist. And lucky you with the next day yarn delivery -- wow!I'll be interested to see what you think of that Main Line yarn.

Now you got me obsessing on that book...oh you cruel woman;) That is mightly dangerous for you to live so near to KnitPicks. Here is Hawaii pickins are so slim and it can take an eternity for anything to get here and sometimes the color is way off.Good thing May is Project Spectrum Green as that is the color of my envy, heh.

Not only are you a hussy, but a pusher! I had told myself that I'd stop buying knitting books, and yet, here you are, flashing something utterly gorgeous and breaking my resolve. Shame on you, Laura. SHAME.

yep, thanks to lolly's sneak peek, that book is on its way to me via amazon! so many nice things to knit .... i love that tank too, oh! and the long cardigan knitted with lite lopi! this book is the ultimate in yarn porn.